In 1975, Lloyd Kaufman had the idea to shoot a horror film involving a health club while serving as the pre-production supervisor on the set of Rocky. At the Cannes Film Festival, Kaufman had read an article that said horror films were no longer popular, so Kaufman claims that he decided to produce his own version of the horror film. The film eventually became a bona fide horror film and a more campy superhero-spoof with extreme violence embedded throughout.
A weakling constantly harassed by bullies, Melvin Ferd III was eventually chased into a drum of toxic waste that transformed him into a hideous yet super strong monster. Melvin decides to use his newfound strength to fight evil as the Toxic Avenger.
Powers and abilities
As the Toxic Avenger, Melvin possesses enough super strength to lift a Greyhound bus and turn it around, and some invulnerability, as he's seen on the cover of an issue to the short lived Marvel "Toxic Avenger" comic yawning as criminals open fire on him. He also has enhanced agility and reflexes, has a danger detecting sixth sense called "Tromatons" which also enable him to sense the evil in others, and urinates acid.
Weapons
Toxie's main weapon is his mop. He will also use his hands and any item he can find if necessary.
In other media
The Toxic Avenger has been adapted to other media:
From April 1991 to February 1992, Marvel Comics published The Toxic Avenger comic. The comic was written by Doug Moench, drawn by Rodney Ramos, and Val Mayerik, and lasted for 11 issues. The series focused on Toxie battling against the evil Apocalypse, Inc. and its demonic Chairman. The title was a mix of traditional superhero storytelling and satire, including the phrase "hideously deformed creature of superhuman size and strength" being repeated many times, and Toxie's "Tromatons" erupting when he was in danger similar to Spider-Man's spider-sense. Marvel's series also contained much in the way of "over-the-top", cartoonish violence. No other Marvel characters ever appeared in the series, and Toxie never made his way into any other Marvel comic, although a crossover with Marvel's RoboCop title was planned before that series was cancelled.
In July 2000, Troma published an extremely rare comic book entitled The New Adventures of the Toxic Avenger. This comic was offered to people who donate $75 or more to TromaDance 2007.
Earlier stage productions of the film include Toxic Avenger: The Musikill, with lyrics by Ira Kortum, who also directed and starred in the production, which premiered in Portland, Oregon. The music was composed by Martin J. Gallagher, with the assistance of Marc Rose. Kaufman reportedly had nothing to do with the production, although he did verbally support Kortum's adaptation and attended the production on Opening Night. Excerpts from Toxic Avenger: The Musikill are featured on the 21st Anniversary edition of the original film. Toxic Avenger: The Musical was presented at Omaha's Blue Barn Theatre in 2004.
